It Comes at Night

Director: Trey Edward Shults

Another week, another horror movie: Cinemas most resilient genre rides again, sure of a dedicated audience of shockfilm addicts and, then all too often, destined for minor Gothic movie festivals before turning up on late night television.

Writer-director Shults scary story of a family hiding out in their isolated home and forced to defend themselves and fight for survival after an apocalyptic plague cause chaos throughout civilization racks up considerable suspense on a patently low budget with star Edgerton  well cast as the paterfamilias  doubling up as executive producer.

His comment You can't trust anyone but family underscores the essential plotline (apart from a genuinely shocking punch-in-the-gut opening sequence where a woman, about to commit a familial murder, apologizes with "I love you dad. I do. I'm so sorry".

The family feel semi-safe living in their isolated home until, unexpectedly, their hideout is discovered by a young family who seek safety with them, cueing increasing suspense and stark scares

Shults (well complemented by Drew Daniels atmospheric cinematography and a suitably moody score by Brian McOmber) delivers strong suspense and scares on a patently low budget, creating a shocker with more impact and intelligent scaremongering than its storyline and un-starry cast might promise.

Asked if he minded if It Comes by Night was called an intellectual horror movie, Shults (who expressed his admiration for Kubricks (for me) rather overrated shocker The Shining) replied No, that sounds cool That sounds right to me.